resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn WHen cruel Herod th'Innocents opprest By th'Angel warn'd thou cal'dst thy Spouse from rest That taking her celestial Babe she might With thee to Aegypt make a speedy flight Antiphon All Hail honour of the Patriarchs Steward of the Holy Church of God who did'st conserve the Bread of Life and the Wheat of the Elect. vers O holy Joseph Pray for us resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the Merits of the Spouse of thy most Holy Mother that what our possibility cannot obtain may be giv'n us by his Intercession Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost World without end Amen At the Ninth Hour Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn THY foes be'ng Dead thou mad'st no longer stay But into Galileé did'st bring away Mother and Child Heav'n this advice did give And thou at Nazareth did'st humbly Live Antiphon All Hail honour of c. as before Pag. 9. vers Pray for us O holy Joseph resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee as before Pag. 9. At Even-Song Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn BLess'd Jesus of thine Eye the glorious Light At twelve Years old was lost unto thy sight But finding him among the Doctors thou His Guardian was to whoâ—â— the Angels bow Antiphon All Hail honour of the c. as before Pag. 9. vers Pray for us O holy Joseph resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we befeech thee c. as before Pag. 9. At Compline Jesus Mary Joseph vers COnvert us O God our Saviour resp And turn away thine anger from us vers O God incline unto my â—id resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn O Happy Man to be imbraced by CHRIST and the Virgin in Death's Agony That so thou might'st thy course directly bend To Limbo having made a godly End Antiphon All Hail honour of the c. as before Pag. 9. vers O holy Joseph Pray for us resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee c. as before Pag. 9. The Commendation THese hours Canonical I have addrest To thee Saint Joseph from a Zealous Breast That by thy Prayers thou wilt obtain that I May live with thee in Heaven Eternally Amen THE LITANY OF S. JOSEPH LOrd have Mercy on us Christ have Mercy on us Lord have Mercy on us Christ Hear us Christ graciously Hear us O God the Father Creator of the World have Mercy on us O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind have Mercy on us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect have Mercy on us O Sacred Trinity three Persons and one God have Mercy on us Holy Mary Queen of the whole World Pray for us Saint Joseph Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Pray for us Saint Joseph Sanctifiâ—d before Birth Pray for us Saint Joseph Priviledg'd and Preserv'd from all Mortal Sin Pray for us Saint Joseph Confirm'd in Grace Pray for us Saint Joseph Honour of the Patriarch's Pray for us Saint Joseph Replenish'd with unspeakable Benedictions Pray for us Saint Joseph Reputed Father of Jesus Pray for us Saint Joseph Abounding with all the Gifts of the Holy Ghost Pray for us Saint Joseph Who Ador'd Jesus in the Crib Pray for us Saint Joseph An Angelical Man Pray for us Saint Joseph Who by the admonition of thy good Angel preserv'dst CHRIST from the fury of Herod Pray for us Saint Joseph Who as a Principality of the first Hierarchy of Angels did'st govern Christ Pray for us Saint Joseph who as a Vertue wert a Minister to CHRIST Pray for us Saint Joseph Greater than the Dominations whom the King and Queen of Heaven Obey'd Pray for us Saint Joseph In whose Armes and Bosome CHRIST was seated as in a Throne Pray for us Saint Joseph Who as a Cherubin had'st care of the Virgin of the true Paradise Pray for us Saint Joseph a Seraphical Man Pray for us Saint Joseph A most high Contemplative Soul Pray for us Saint Joseph Who dyedst in CHRIST'S Armes Pray for us Saint Joseph Who didst hear Angelical Musick Pray for us Saint Joseph Praecursor of CHRIST to the Holy Fathers in Limbo Pray for us Saint Joseph Who arose with CHRIST from the Dead Pray for us Saint Joseph Who in Body and Mind did enjoy peculiar gifts of Glory Pray for us Saint Joseph Our dear Patron and Defender Pray for us Lamb of God that takest away the Sins of the World spare us O Lord. Lamb of God that takest away the Sins of the World hear us O Lord. Lamb of God that takest away the Sins of the World have mercy upon us O Lord hear my Prayer And let my Supplication come to thee The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee c. as before Pag. 9. THE HYMN In Honour of S. IOSEPH HAil holy Joseph whose pure Mind Rendred thee fit to be design'd The Husband of a most pure Bride To Royal David both ally'd Hail Guardian of God's Son on Earth Fore-to'ld of his stupendious Birth And other Heavenly Secrets known But to thy self and Spouse alone How often did thy happy Armes Secure that Sacred Babe from Harms When with him and thy Virgin-Wife Constrain'd to fly to save thy Life With what unspeakable delight Didst thou enjoy the precious sight Of thy Redeemer whose bright Eyes Did far out-shine the Sun's up-rise How many times didst thou imbrace The tender giver of all Grace And didst as often fix a Kiss To fill the measure of thy Bliss To whom did God such joy's Impart As to thine own and Spouse Heart Which did strange Comforts entertain When Jesus lost was found again Most happy was thy House to be That Paradise in which the Tree Of Life did prosper when the ground Where that first grew cou'd not be found How sweetned was thy daily pains While Jesus lived on thy gains Whereby the Food that yee did Eat Became all Sanctified Meat With thee he frequently did walk Calling thee Father in his talk And by his charming sweet Discourse Did Sorrows from thy Heart Divorce No Instruments however Strung ' Ere sounded like our Saviour's Tongue Which thou heard'st hourly Happy then Wert thou above the rest of Men. And when in age resistless Death Gave summons to thy latest Breath Cou'dst thou more happiness devise Than to have Jesus close thine Eyes Great is thy
in the Armes of our most Merciful Redeemer And did I know to which of these my Pious Readers Inclinations wou'd most of all lead him I wou'd promote his Devotion thereunto But instead of this to shew how pleasing such Devotions as these are to Almighty God I will here relate what happen'd to a Devout Client of Saint Joseph a Religious Man of the Monastery of Monferat in Spain who was particularly Devoted to his voyage into Aegypt with JESUS and his Holy Virgin Mother It fell out that this Religious Man returning once very late to his Monastery lost his way and wandred so long up and down a Mountain some distance from it that at length he gave himself for lost by reason of the contagious effects that were occasion'd by the unwholsome Fogg's of that place or because he fear'd to become â— Prey to the Merciless savage Beasts of which the place was very full his fears and apprehentions increas'd with the darkness of the Night and caus'd him to recommend himself to Saint Joseph when upon a sudden he meets a grave Man leading an Ass which had a Woman upon it bearing an Infant in her Armes this happy incounter gave him â— wonderful Comfort which was increas'd when asking the way to the Monastery the Man who lead the Ass bad him follow him and he wou'd lead him the right way thither As they went their whole Discourse was of God and this with so much Fruit that never in his Lifâ— the Religious Man even in Prayer had felt the like Sweetness which was accompanied with no less Joy when he saw himself enter into the Village in which the Monastery was which joy was follow'd with no less astonishment when on a sudden his guide Disappear'd as soon as he had thus brought him out of all danger Which gave him presently the assurance that 't was Saint Joseph that had brought him out of this trouble and danger he was in whereby his Devotions to this great Saint was increas'd and also to that particular part of his Life to which he was before so particularly Devoted The third Devotion is to say every Day or at least once a weak his little Office which is in the Key of Paradise which is Printed at the end of this Book for the greater conveniency of those who desire to make use thereof This Office contains a continual Praise of Saint Joseph in which some of his Devotes who say it Daily others who say it every Saturday find great Comfort and no less Profit also And the great advantage that the Clients of Saint Joseph experience is his readiness always to acknowledge them as such and to assist 'em accordingly as appears by what some Years since happen'd at Loudun in France The Prioress of the Vrsulins of Loudun nam'd in Religion Sister â—ean of the Angels of the House of Cose was Possess'd by an Evil Spirit call'd Leviathan who exercis'd extraordinary violences and cruelties towards her she not knowing how better to defend her self against this his Tyrany made a Vow to say every Day the Office of Saint Joseph for a whole Year together and Weekly also to do some Pennance in his honour to obtain by his powerful Intercession a freedom from the Persecution she suffer'd from this her Infernal Enemy Two or three Days after she had made this Vow the Wicked Spirit left her at the first Exorcisme leaveing a Cross on the Fore-head of the said Religious as the Exorcist had enjoyn'd him and at the same time another Devil cry'd out Saint Joseph is come and has caus'd Leviathan to depart The fourth Devotion is Daily to recite the Litany of Saint Joseph which contain all the cheif Passages of his Life together with all the extraordinary Priviledges God bestow'd upon him And having lately seen a Manuscript of a certain Religious of the Order of Saint Bennet in which were set down amongst some particular Devotions to Saint Joseph A little Litany Compos'd in his honour in an Alphabetical order which pleas'd me very much it facilitating the Memory in relating it and therefore take occasion of giveing you the same in English after the same Order which if you like not you may make use of the great Litany which you will find in the Office of Saint Joseph Page 15. with the Prayer Page 5. THE ALPHABETICAL LITANY OF S. Joseph LORD have Mercy on us Christ have Mercy on us Lord have Mercy on us Jesus Receive our Prayers Lord Jesus Grant our Petitions O God the Father Creator of the World Have Mercy upon us O God the Son Redeemer of Mankind Have Mercy upon us O God the Holy Ghost Perfecter of the Elect. Have Mercy upon us Holy Trinity one God Have Mercy upon us Holy Mary Spouse of Saint Joseph Pray for us Holy Joseph Advocate of the Humble Pray for us Holy Joseph Blessed amongst Men. Pray for us Holy Joseph Confirm'd in Grace Pray for us Holy Joseph Defender of the Meek Pray for us Holy Joseph Exil'd with Christ into Aegypt Pray for us Holy Joseph Favorit of the King of Heaven Pray for us Holy Joseph Guardian of the Word Incarnate Pray for us Holy Joseph Honour'd amongst Men. Pray for us Holy Joseph Idea of Humility and Obedience Pray for us Holy Joseph Kind Intercessour for the Afflicted Pray for us Holy Joseph Lilly of Chastity and Temperance Pray for us Holy Joseph Mirrour of Silence and Resignation Pray for us Holy Joseph Nurfing Father to the Sou of God Pray for us Holy Joseph Obsequious Servant to the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary Pray for us Holy Joseph Patron of the Industrious and Innocent Pray for us Holy Joseph Quintessence of all Vertue Pray for us Holy Joseph Ruler of the Family of Jesus Pray for us Holy Joseph Spouse of the ever Blessed Virgin Pray for us Holy Joseph Theatre of all Glorious Priviledges Pray for us Holy Joseph Vnion of all Christian Perfections Pray for us O Lamb of God who takest away the Sins of the World Spare us O Lord. O Lamb of God who takest away the Sins of World Hear us O Lord. O Lamb of God who takest away the Sins of the World Have Mercy upon us Pray for us O Holy Joseph That we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ The Prayer ASSIST us O Lord we beseech thee by the Merits of the Spouse of thy most holy Mother that what our unworthiness cannot obtain may be giv'n us by his Intercession Who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost World without end Amen But the better to excite you to a Practise of this Devotion of reâ—â—â—eing the Litany of this great Saint I shall here set down some particular Favors obtain'd by the recital of them either every Day or only for a certain time prefixt The Religious of the Order of Saint Vrsula had a defign to settle themselves in Lambesa in Province some Years since upon hopes given 'em of
feelings one to another occasion after these most Joyful Tydings The Colloquie O Infinite Goodness that thus triest and rewardest even thy best Servants let all Saints and Angels praise thee for this thy Bounty to thy dearest Mother and her dearest Spouse and cry out with Saint Paul †Non sunt Condignae Passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam quae revelabitur in nobis Rom. 8.18 That all the Afflictions and Iribulations of this World are nothing in comparison of the Glory they will Cloath us withall in the next Grant us O God that with Patience Courage and Conformity we may suffer those thou shalt vouchafe to send us as they did rather to please thee than for any other Reward that can be hop'd for O Pious Joseph O Amiable Virgin Interceed to obtain this Favour for us by your powerful Intercessions in all perplexing Difficulties V. MEDITATION Of the Vertues Saint Joseph exercis'd at the Birth Circumcision and Presentation of the Son of God Prepratory Prayer BEG Grace of God profitably to consider the Examples Saint Joseph gives us in these three Mysteries I. Prelude IMAGINE Saint Joseph after his tiresome Winter Journy of thirty Miles with our Blessed Lady who had now almost accomplish'd her ninth Month ariv'd at Bethleem whither he came to comply with the Emperours Edict to enrole himself and his Consort Behold him with Solicitude seeking a place for her to retire into but finding none he is forc'd to lead her into a poor ruinous Stable where the Son of God is Born There behold him Adoring him newly Born Then Circumcising and giving him the Name of JESUS And lastly accompany them with their Divine Infant to the Temple where they are met by Simeon and Anne who had long expected this happy hour and attend to what pass'd in this meeting II. Prelude BEG Grace to understand and profit by those Pious Thoughts wherewith Saint Joseph's Heart was replenish'd whilst he Contemplated these wonderful Mysteries I. Point Consider how promptly Saint Joseph Obey'd the Emperours Edict chearfully quitting in the circumstance his Spouse was in those conveniencies they had at Nazareth to expose himself and her to the inconveniencies of a long Winter Journy to go to a strange place where by reason of his Poverty he cou'd expect none wanting wherewithall to purchase ' em O wonderful Love of Poverty and Mortification O blind Obedience O admirable Confidence in the Divine Providence He knew the Emperours Edict was God's Command who cou'd and wou'd take care of 'em and support 'em to comply with it O! What Heavenly Discourse past in the way upon this Subject O! What Acts of Resignation to the Inconveniencies and usage they met withall Being deny'd place in an Inn and forc'd to lodge and and bring forth her Son in a Stable O! What Joy was it to him to become a Victime of Obedience and feel these sensible effects of Poverty O! What Love what Compassion what sorrow fill'd his tender Heart to see what the Divine Infant and his Mother suffer'd at his entrance into the World What Acts of Love what Congratulations and Thanksgiving did he the give him And with what Joy and Comfort did JESUS fill his Heart pierc'd with Sorrow for what he and his Mother Suffer'd by his Heavenly Smiles and Carresses And how did the Angels by their Heavenly Canticles endeavour to Comfort and Rejoyce his sad Heart as they had done the Shep-heards whō they brought to Adore him And what occasion did the sight also of the Offerings and Adorations of the three Kings give him to Bless Admire and Love the Divine Providence Procuring these Honnour 's to the Divine Infant and his Mother O the Charming Beauty of Poverty O the Dignity of Humility O unspeakable Pleasure of Suffering Mortification for God in God and with God! O Divine Lessons taught us and practis'd not only by S. Joseph but by no less than God himself yet how are these admirable Virtues thus esteem'd by God contemn'd by Men O Blessed Joseph obtain for me such a Love Esteē and Practice of 'em as may constantly replenish all my Thoughts and Actions influenc'd by those that were Communicated to your Heart from the Heart of the Divine Infant JESUS II. Point Consider Saint Joseph performing that hard task of Obedience in Circumcising this Divine Infant Imagine how the Pain he caus'd him pierc'd his own Heart consider how the Divine Infant by his Smiles and Interiour Inspirations encourag'd assisted and even provok'd and help'd him to performthis great Pledge of his Divine Love by this early shedding of his Sacred Blood Consider what a strife of Joy and Sorrow were rais'd in Saint Joseph's Heart first by beholding him shedding his Precious Blood and Contemplating this Fountain and Stream of Mercy as a certain Pledge of Mans Redemption and secondly by feeling himself the Pain he occasion'd by the Wound he gave him Consider also the Joy with which Saint Joseph gave and the Divine Infant receiv'd the Holy Name of JESUS Beg Saint Joseph's Intercession to pronounce it with such a tender Affection and Devotion as may render it essential towards the Salvation of your Soul O JESUS be to me a JESUS OH Joseph beg of him to be to me a JESUS for Love he bears to his most Blessed Mother and your dearest self III. Point Consider that forty Days after his Birth Saint Joseph led the Blessed Virgin Mother with her Divine Infant to the Temple carrying a pair of Turtles in his Hand for his Redemption where Saint Simeon and the Holy Prophetess Anne after many Years Expectation of this Happy Day were Inspir'd to receive them at the Gate Joyn your self to this pious Procession behold with what a transport of Joy Saint Simeon takes the Divine Infant out of his Mothers Arms into his own and how willingly the Blessed Virgin parted with what was dearer to her than her Life to make an Oblation of him to his Eternal Father Hearken to Saint Simeons Prophecy in this transport and consider with what Affection he Offers his Life to the God of Life Behold Saint Joseph's Heart pierc'd whilst Saint Simeon foretold the piercing of that of his Spouse Behold also the Joy Saint Joseph felt in hearing that JESUS was to be the Light and Salvation of the Gentil's as well as of the People Israel Behold Saint Joseph Offering the Turtles to Saint Simeon to Redeem his Beloved JESUS O wonderful Riches of Poverty Acceptable to God for the Purchase and Redemption of an inestimable Treasure O what a mutual Joy pass'd between JESUS and Joseph at this Reception into his Arms And between him and his Mother in in being restor'd to her's O Powerful Joseph obtain for me such a disposition as his Mother your self and Saint Simeon had as often as I Receive him and obtain for me such a Disposition of Heart for his Reception as may cause a Joy in him to be Receiv'd by me The Colloquie O Divine Infant
Faithfull and prudent servant constituted by our Lord for the Comforter of his Mother for the Forster-Father of his Humanity and for his only and most faithfull assistant in his great design upon earth S. Bern. Hom. 2. Super Missus est PIOUS REMARKES UPON THE LIFE OF S. JOSEPH SPOUSE Of the B. Virgin Mary Mother of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Written Originally in French by Rd. Father Paul Barrie The Second Edition of the English Translation Printed by T. F. in the Year M.DCC. THE TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS Pious Remarks upon the Life of Saint Joseph Spouse to the Bles-Virgin Mary exciting Devotion to this Glorious Saint CHAPTER I. OF the admirable Love that God bore Saint Joseph Pag. 1. CHAP. II. Of those wonderful Qualities whereby God render'd Saint Joseph aimiable above all other Saints except JESUS and MARY Pag. 20. CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for JESUS and MARY Pag. 28. CHAP. IV. What was the Reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most aimiable of all the Saints after JESUS and MARY had such a Love and Devotion payd him as was due to the greatness of his Merits Pag. 34. CHAP. V. Of the ten particular Clients of Saint Joseph who by their Pious Examples have invited and mov'd us to a particular Devotion to him next to Jesus and Mary Pag. 50. CHAP. VI. Of the Ordinary Devotions that may be daily Exercis'd towards Saint Joseph Pag. 78. The Alphabetical Litany of Saint Joseph Pag. 85. CHAP. VII What Devotions are to be us'd to Saint Joseph upon his Feast Pag. 96. CHAP. VIII Of Devotions to S. Joseph during the Octave of his Feast or at other times according to the opportunity or affection of his Clients Pag. 108. CHAP. IX Containing nine different occasions of particular Devotions proper to Saint Joseph and practis'd by his particular Devots P 113. CHAP. X. Of the help and Assistance that Saint Joseph gives to his Devout Clients towards their attaining Interiour Perfection and in what this Perfection do's consist Pag. 130. CHAP. XI Of the assistance Saint Joseph gives to Spiritual Maladies especially to those who are in a bad State of Soul Pag. 146. CHAP. XII The Miraculous Assistance which Saint Joseph giv's in Curing Corporal Diseases especially the Plague Pag. 155. CHAP. XIII The assistance which God giv's upon all occasions by Saint Joseph Intercession Pag. 171. CHAP. XIV To exhort all to have recours to Saint Joseph and Confide in his Powerful Protection P. 177. PIOUS REMARKS UPON The Life of Saint Joseph Spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary exciting Devotion to this Glorious Saint CHAP. I. Of the admirable Love that God bore Saint Ioseph IT was doubtless a Divine Inspiration with which that Painter was mov'd who first put a Lilly into Saint Joseph's Hand Flowers we know have something very lovely and charming in them and 't is look'd upon as an honor and good Fortune no less to bear their Name than to bear them in our Scutcheon or Coat of Armes Wherefore the City of Florence esteems it as a very great one to bear the Name of that rich Flower that adorns her delicious Gardens The glorious Name of Rose is also justly intail'd upon the Iland of Rhod's as being so beautiful and pleasant a place that it even resembles a Rose in the Spring All the World know's that Susa the chief City in great Assuerus's Kingdom pretended to better Fortune than all the other Cities of Asia because the Name Susa signifies a Lilly whereby she gave her self a right above all other Cities of stiling her self the City of Lillies And there are none even of the Interpreters of Holy Scripture who do not take notice that the City of Nazareth fortunately bore the Name of Flowers Because it was the residence of Jesus Nazarenus that is Jesus of the City of Flowers and the Native Town of Mary and Joseph the three fairest Flowers in the Garden of the Holy Catholic Church We Read also in Ancient Annals that the very name and sight of Flowers have been look'd upon as a most happy and prosperous Omen for as Plutarch recounts in the Life of Sylla the Roman Army being drawn up in Battle array ready to charge the Enemy an agreeable gale arising brought a great quantity of Lillies Roses Violets Flower-de-Luces Daffadils and several other sorts of flowers from the Neighboring Fields and Gardens which falling upon the Shields and Head-pieces of the Roman Souldiers they believ'd it a certain presage of their good Fortune and even a kind of crowning them Conquerors before-hand At the Battle of Lepanto Roses were there sold in the publick Piazza in the Month of October as red and fresh as they are in June From whence all assur'd themselves of a signal Victory that the Christians shou'd obtain against the Turk's This Lilly therefore Saint Joseph bears betokens those extraordinary qualities and priviledges wherewith he is inrich'd and therefore the Painter who first put it into his Hand was as I sayd without doubt inspir'd from Heaven to do so since this Branch of Lillies silently hint's at whatsoever can be said of him and even manifests all those wonders that lie hid in this Great Saint As I shall hereafter endeavour to explicate Wherefore do but learn the price and excellency of the Lilly and thereby you 'll know the eminent and admirable Perfections of Saint Joseph and perceive also that wonderful and almost incredible Love which God had for him For as a Lilly is the grace and ornament of a Garden of pleasure as 't is the beautiful Master-piece that draws the Eyes and charms the Hearts of the beholders at their first entrance into it so according to Saint Austin there are no less charming Lillies in the Garden of Heaven †Floribus caeli neque rosa neque liliae desunt Aug. serm 11 de Sanctis Amongst Heavenly Flowers neither Roses nor Lillies says he are wanting That are no less charming to their beholders Now let us see how beautiful and sweet a Lilly Saint Joseph is for since the heavenly Spouse is highly pleas'd with a feast of Lillies therefore Saint Joseph had the honor to be invited to it next after the Bridegroom himself * Dilectus meus mihi ego illi qui pascitur inter lilia Cant. 2.26 My beloved is mine says the Spouse and I am his who feeds amongst Lillies Behold then Jesus Mary and Joseph three glorious Lillies indeed that assist at this Banquet of Lillies The honor and beauty both of Heaven and Earth and the most amiable of all Created Objects But before we Contemplate Saint Joseph let us take a view of the Lillies Perfections which is an Emblem of him The Lilly surpasses all other odoriferous Flowers in growth as well as beauty she raises her beautiful head upon a streight stalk many feet
higher than any other Flowers do as Saint Joseph also in the height of Justice and Perfection surmounts all other Saints Wherefore when we behold Saint Joseph leading his reputed Son Jesus in one Hand and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the other we cannot but admire to what a height of Dignity God has rais'd him and must own that none ever was rais'd to the like and that such a Dignity as this is not given in the House of God but according to the Sanctity and Graces the Person rais'd to it is partaker of and which the Ministry he is imploy'd in do's require The first and highest degree of all Honors and Dignities upon Earth was due to Jesus the Son of God Incarnate the second to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and the third to Saint Joseph Spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Foster-Father to the Son of God Wherefore according to the most devout and learned Doctor of the Church Saint Thomas our Lilly Saint Joseph is rais'd also after Jesus and Mary to the highest Dignity upon Earth * Eo fuit excellentior quo ad altiorem ordinem pertinuit S. Th. 3. par â— By so much says he he excel'd others by how much he was rais'd to a higher Dignity than others were The Lilly also is an Emblem of pure Love and springs from a Heart the source of Love which it's Root resembles and in this it resembles also our Saint Joseph Who next to Jesus and Mary exceeds all Creatures both in active and passive Love his Heart was most inflam'd by being replenish'd with the Love of God towards him which mov'd his Divine Majesty to raise him to the highest Dignity on Earth next to Jesus and Mary And Saint Joseph reverberates and casts back these Flames towards God by a faithful correspondence and fidelity in those high functions to which he had chosen him which render'd him most amiable both to Heaven and Earth as I shall hereafter prove more at large So that we see how the Lilly is a lively Emblem of our Saint and that this Lilly he holds in his Hand intimates something that is great and what is beyond our power to express The very number also of the Lillies leaves betokens those six wonderful priviledges which the extraordinary Love of God mov'd him to bestow upon our Lilly Saint Joseph Margaret Queen of Navar took for her Device a crown'd Lilly at which two rich Pendants of Jewels were hung with this Motto * Mirandum naturae opus The wonderful work of Nature Which Device may also be very well apply'd to Saint Joseph The Lilly is his Ensign and is not only the wonder of Nature but of Grace also upon which hung those two rich Jewels Jesus and Mary whom he led in each Hand bearing the Title of Father to the one and of Husband to the other he therefore justly deserves to be Crown'd since in the Love of God he bears away the Prise from all both in the Church Militant and Triumphant So that none must dare to dispute the right of Coronation with him he having those high Prerogatives bestow'd upon him from which all others except Jesus and Mary his beloved Son and Spouse are excluded The part and portion also he has of Divine Love in this Triumph is very remarkable and gives him a place in that title which his great Progenitor David gave to the 44. Psalm * Triumphus per lilia Psal 44. The Triumph by Lillies Making him partner in this Triumph with the two other Lillies Jesus and Mary these being all and always of a Company Wherefore since this Triumph partly belongs to him I may conclude him a Conqueror with the other two and that this his Triumph is as much above that of all other Saints as he exceeds them in those wonderful Graces and Prerogatives which the Love of God bestow'd upon him This will easily be perceiv'd by displaying the six Leaves of our Lilly and discovering thereby the six extraordinary Prerogatives the Love of God has bestow'd upon him above all other Saints excepting upon Jesus and Mary The Head or Blossom of this Flower contains as I sayd six white resplendent Leaves which represent the six particular and extraordinary Prerogatives that shine in Saint Joseph beyond all other Saints Wherefore 't will be sufficient only to open and display these six Leaves to let you see the wonderful novelties they contain and thereby both raise your Imagination of Saint Joseph's Perfections and charm your Affection to such a height with Love and Devotion to him as he truly deserves Novelties as we find by experience contain a certain lustre within themselves that causes admiration and therefore they need not borrow words or discourses to set themselves out A Beauty inrich'd by Nature as you know needs neither Paint nor Patch a Diamond of great price wants no foile to set it off A Cabinet also fill'd with rich and sparkling jewels declares it's own value and therefore needs no other commendation than to set it open containing within it self it 's own light lustre and beauty The Leaves I am about to display of this glorious Lilly are of the same stamp or nature so that by giving you only a sight of them as of so many unheard of Prerogatives they cannot but raise your admiration of his Perfections and even charm and move you to a Devotion to him The first Leaf or Prerogative I lay open cannot but cause a strange admiration for is it not wonderful that a Son should choose his own Father 'T is a wonder never before heard of in the World since it 's first beginning Read the Roman Annals turn over all the Histories of the Universe you 'll find nothing like to this and were this a practice that cou'd be brought into the World what a change wou'd it make in it Poor Deform'd Imperfect and Vicious Men wou'd never be chosen for Fathers None but such as were Rich Prudent Vertuous and every way Accomplish'd wou'd be made choice of from whence we may conclude that a Person who is chosen by one that is very Prudent must needs be very Good Beautiful and most Accomplish'd in all kind of Perfections Now to apply this to our Lilly to our Glorious Saint Joseph You know that the Son of God by right of his Divine Existence had a Being before his Human Birth and therefore had the advantage of Time in which he might choose his Father and supposing his design to choose one amongst Men 't is certain his infinite Wisdom wou'd make choice of one most Perfect and Eminent in Sanctity and of one that were most fit and most capable for so high a Dignity For if a Worm like my self wou'd make choice of the bravest of Men for it's Father had it an occasion offer'd to do so can we imagine that the Son of God the Eternal Wisdom who judges of things as they are knows the value and depth of Hearts
and sees the worth of all Creatures wou'd not choose the most Perfect of all Men for his Father To think otherwise wou'd be to rank his Wisdom beneath our own Wherefore since he has chosen Saint Joseph before all others since his Knowledge and Love mov'd him to this Election must not this choice he made of him be an evident proof that he was eminent in all Perfections Especially since the Divine Wisdom it self chose him for his Father Let us now pass on and take a view of the second Leaf or second Prerogative of our glorious Lilly He was not only chosen by the Divine Wisdom to be his Father but even to be Father to him who was the Son of God So that by this Election which the Eternal Wisdom made Joseph had God for his Son Who cou'd have thought it possible that a Man cou'd be Father to the Son of God Or cou'd ever have imagin'd that Man might with truth say to the Son of God you are my Son Or that Man shou'd arrive to so high a pitch of Dignity as to bear the relation of Paternity to the Word Incarnate Which in some measure resembl'd the Paternity of the Eternal Father to his Eternal and Uncreated Son O wonderful Dignity Joseph Father of Jesus Father of the Son of God Incarnate Having the honor to be Father to him upon Earth to whom God is Father in Heaven But to evidence and make this Truth more clear We must know that Jesus was not his Son by Nature but by the Lawful Right that accru'd to Saint Joseph by Jesus his being Son to his Spouse the Blessed Virgin Mary For by his being her Son he was Produc'd in and Born of that Flesh which by right of Marriage was Saint Joseph's and was under his power and jurisdiction So that according to the common axiom of the Civil Law that says †Quid in alieno solo nascitur vel aedificatur sub illius dominium cadit cujus est solum Institut de rer divis Whatsoever grow's in or is built upon anothers Soil belongs to the owner thereof This title was strong enough to give him the right and title of a Father and caus'd our Blessed Lady to stile him his Father even to her Son himself when she sayd †Pater tuus Ego dolentes quaerebamus te Luc. 2.48 Behold with how much Grief your Father and I have sought after you he also by his Answer seem'd to own him for his Father upon Earth when he sayd * Nesciebatis quia in his quae patris mei sunt oportet me esse Ibid v. 49. Knew yee not that 't was chiefly my duty to take care of my Fathers business Meaning his Heavenly Father as if he wou'd have sayd you have reason for what you say but you know that my first and chief obligation is to comply with the Will of my Heavenly Father But this is not all Saint Joseph was not only the Father of Jesus because he was call'd so or because he had that relation to the Blessed Virgin I before spoke of but because he wanted nothing that is found in a true Paternity or Fatherly Right He had all that care affection and authority that any Father ever had or ever will have in relation to a Son For as Saint John Damascen says †Omne jus quo constituitur Paternitas sortitus est Joseph solo jurâ— generation is excepto S. â—o Damas Orat. de na B. V. Saint Joseph had all that cou'd intitle him to the right of Paternity except that of Generation * Et hoc supple vit Deus Pater infundendo viro Mariae paternum pro filio Jesu amorem Rupertus in 1. Matth. Which according to Rupertus the Abbot God the Father supply'd by infusing into the Husband of Mary a Paternal Love of her Son Jesus By which infusion Saint Joseph participated of all Graces that can either be nam'd or imagin'd for if God had a design to Love a Man after the best manner imaginable or to give him the highest place of Glory in Heaven what more cou'd he do for him than to constitute him to bear the Office of a Father over his own and only Son than which nothing can be more excellent nothing more rare or more admirable for by giving him this Office he gives him all the qualities necessary for it and gives him power to call even the Son of God his Son causing the effect to correspond to the Name The third Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that being Man he shou'd become Husband to the Mother of God O wonder of wonders When we wou'd comprehend in few words all the wonderful Perfections and Prerogatives of the Blessed Virgin Mary we make use of Saint Mathews words †Maria de qua natus est Jesus Matth. 1.16 Mary of whom Jesus was born For as by styling her Mother of Jesus we comprehend all that can be sayd of her so Saint Joseph by being styl'd Husband to the Mother of God comprehends under this title all other Dignities and Perfections whatsoever So that a greater than this cannot be given him as Saint John Damascen well observes when he says * Dicis illum virum Mariae hoc est prorsus ineffabile nihil praeterea dici potest Cant. 3. in Nat. B. V. You call him the Husband of Mary this is such a title as cannot be explicated and more than this cannot be sayd of him Mary Spouse to Joseph do's in plenitude of Grace surpass both Men and Angels and has not her Husband think you the like endowments Since God judg'd him a fit match for her and for this end gave him so great an abundance of Grace Vertue and Sanctity that neither Men nor Angels ever had the like hereby to fit him to be Spouse and Guide to the Virgin-Mother God judging it fit that in her right he shou'd partake of all her Honors Favors and Dignities If therefore she be a Princess he is a Prince and he also is King where-ever she is Queen For God who design'd to raise Mary to the quality and honor of the Mother of God At the same time design'd her a Husband like to her self whom he lov'd above all Men upon Earth and therefore endow'd him with all Graces suitable to such a Dignity O thrice happy Joseph Thus chosen by God and thus fitted and advanc'd to be the Husband of the Mother of God as his best beloved next to Jesus and Mary The fourth Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that he is at once both a Father and a Virgin Which is so singular a Prerogative that 't is allow'd to none but him There have been many Virgin-husbands but of Virgin fathers there has never been any one but S. Joseph who is Spouse also of a Virgin-mother Which singular Prerogative was reserv'd by God only for his best beloved JOSEPH and MARY God lodging his special
sit For tho' it wou'd have been an incredible satisfaction to the Faithful to have had him as much Lov'd and honor'd during the whole time of the Law of Grace as now yet God wou'd reserve this Joy and Contentment for these latter Years And therefore the Devout and Learn'd Bellarmin was wont to call this Age in which we now Live the Age of Saints He judging the number of Persons that arrive to an eminent degree of Sanctity by makeing Petfection the chief and whole study of their Lives to be far greater in these our Days than ever ir was in former Ages No time therefore cou'd be better for the acknowledging and serving Saint Joseph the greatest of Saints than the Age of Saints wherein the Splendor of his Perfections might appear so much the more Glorious by how much it had been for so many Agoâ— Eclipsed and lain under a Cloud O how wonderful is God in all his Designs And how good is he to us who Live in this Age Since he depriv'd former Ages of the Beauty of this Sun and ordain'd it shou'd break through that Cloud it lay hid in in this our Age to give us this most bright Day and to move us to a servent Love and Devotion to Saint Joseph Moreover the Divine Providence has in this which is one of the chief works of Grace acted after the same manner as he do's in the rarest Master-pieces of Nature 'T is his special Favor that permits us to enjoy the sight of these Beautiful Objects which are the product of his Divine Creation Such as are Diamonds Rubies Emerods Pearls and all other sorts of Precious Stones that gives us also a sight of Gold Silver and other resplendent Metals yet there are far greater Treasures of this kind buried in the Bottom of the Sea and in the Bowels of the Earth than ever we have yet seen or heard of His Bounty let 's us also behold the many Beautiful Flowers Plants Trees Birds and Beasts together with that wonderful and agreeable variety of so many beautiful Faces of Men Women and Children the wonders of the Universe yet God has layd up and kept a reserve of all these Objects far more Beautiful than any we have ever yet seen He permits us also to behold the most glorious objects of the Sun Moon and Stars tho' their distance hinders us in some measure from perceiving that wonderful Beauty they contain in themselves But there are far greater richer and more beautiful Objects than all these in the Empyrial Heaven which God has still conceal'd from us which are as far above the Sun in Beauty as the Empyrial Heaven is above it in Height Tho' God's Liberality and Bounty towards us in affording us the Contemplation of all these Beautiful Objects is a great mark of his Goodness Yet he has been far more gracious towards us in shewing us the wonderful works of his Grace than in discovering to us the foresaid works of Nature By giving us some knowledge of those wonderful ornaments of the Empyrial Heaven especially of those two great Luminaries Jesus and Mary which adorn and imbelish his Heavenly Pallace together with a great number of other Saints also who like so many Blaeing Stars Beautifie his Caelestial Hierusalem or Vision of Peace And tho' we must own our sight too short and even too weak to behold these great Lights whose number is beyond our casting up and whose Beauty and Glory exceed our Imagination because we can have no full and compleat knowledge of 'em till we be so happy as to enjoy their company by being plac'd with them in the Celestial Court Yet we must nevertheless acknowledge this imperfect and abstractive knowledge he gives us as a special favour and also that he has after so extraordinary a manner been pleas'd to discover to us in this our Age one of the Richest Treasures of Heaven for Greatness Sanctity and Glory which for so many foregoing Ages he had conceal'd from the World that we may inrich our selves by paying due honour and affection to him whom he had rais'd to the honour of being the Foster Father of Jesus and Spouse of the Virgin Mary and hereby gain those Heavenly Blessings that accompany such a Devotion And 't is no less for Saint Joseph's greater honour than our greater merit that God has reserv'd the discovery of his Merits till our Days We also know that except the work of Creation of all things out of nothing that nothing is done here upon Earth without fit Dispositions and due Preparations The Painter prepares his Pallet with Colours and primes his Cloath before he begins to Paint The Architect squares and makes ready his Timber Stone and other Materials before he begins to Build The Gold-smith refines his Silver and hammers out his Plates before he begins to imboss his Work Ladies make up their Commodes all their other Ornaments and Rich Attire before they Dress or Adorn themselves A good Rhetoritian prepares and disposes his Matter and Figures to adorn his Oration before he Composes it Nay we see that even all sorts of Artisans prepare both Tools and Matter to work upon and great preparations are made before any excellent Piece of Work can be accomplish'd and when 't is done 't is also necessary that the Beholders shou'd be duly inform'd and well dispos'd for the better conceiving understanding and admiring it's Perfections God therefore would dispose the World to conceive and understand the great Perfections of Saint Joseph before he wou'd discover to them such a Master-Piece And not only Art but Nature also do's produce her Works by degrees nor do's she furnish them without many Previous Dispositions and Trials of her Skill For according to Pliny who search'd more narrowly into her Works than any other Naturalist has ever done â—â—ys that †Campanula rudimentum est Naturae Lilia facere addiscentis The Bell-flower is an Essay 〈◊〉 Tryal of Nature how to make a â—â—illy or Tulip For after she has thus â—ade or produc'd it of one Colour â—he takes still longer time as the â—â—ost experienc'd Florists inform us â—o Adorn Trace and Paint it after â—o Artificial a manner with so many â—indes of rich resplendent Colours â—s render it so very Beautiful that â—he Divine Wisdom gives it this high Commendation saying * Nec Salomon in omni Gloria suâ— coopertus est sicut unum ex illis Matth. 6.29 That Salomon in all his Glory was not so Richly Attir'd as one of these Yet Nature do's not Communicate this Beauty to them but by degrees and after several tryals of her Skill for she first rais'd it from Seed only of one Colour which Colour also is very indifferent and ordinary in respect of those Colours wherewith she afterwards Stripes Traces and Adorn's it Now if from the Works of Art and Nature we have recourse to those of Grace immediately wrought by God himself we shall find he takes the self same
Crown upon her Head in the second lay little Jesus surrounded by a Flock of Lamb's in the third stood Saint Joseph with a Venerable Countenance a Mantle of Gold hanging upon his shoulder a Dove over his Head and a Religious Woman kneeling at his Feet resembling the deceas'd Nun. The sight of this as we may truely beleive was a comfort to all the beholders and the fame of it was spread abroad far and near which much increas'd the Devotion to Jesus Mary and Joseph especially to the last who had thus rewarded his suppliant Which three Miraculous pieces are preserv'd to this very Day and to be seen in the Town of Chateau in the Monastery of the Order of Saint Dominick where they are kept with great Devotion The seventh Person Famous for her particular Devotion to Saint Ioseph is Blessed Agatha of the Holy Cross of the same Order And it was upon the Feast of the Purification that this Pious Soul conceiv'd so great a Devotion to this Saint The occasion whereof was this she had a design to act the part of a severe Governess in correcting certain Women whom the had a little before taken in a Fault thereby to frighten 'em from falling again into the like Which afterwards she had a scruple of fearing she might have exceeded in her Words and manner of her Correction wherefore she resolv'd to go to Confession and whilst she was in the Church preparing her self for it Our Blessed Lady Appear'd to her with her Infant Jesus in her Armes accompanied by Saint Joseph the surprise of so great a favour made her not loose so good an occasion of begging Pardon for her Fault both of the Infant and his Mother which they granted her and at the same time fill'd her Heart with so great an abundance of joy and comfort that she spent the whole Day in Thanksgiving to them considering at the same time the seraphical affections Saint Joseph had when he assisted in the Temple of Jerusalem at the Purification of our Blessed Lady Nor did she permit this Devotion they had inkindl'd in her Heart both towards themselves and Saint Joseph to cool but still increas'd the fervour thereof towards the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin which was incourag'd and encreas'd by a Vision she had upon the Feast of this Holy Patriarch concerning his Life and Death Wherein she understood by Divine Inspiration that when this Saint was at his last Gasp he felt an extream regret to quit the Company and Conversation of Jesus and his Beloved Spouse knowing that after the departure of his Soul from his Body he was not presently to enjoy God but was to expect this Happiness till the Resurrection of the Son of God which grief continuing our Blessed Saviour bid him not afflict himself at this separation for he shou'd quickly see both him and his Eternal Father also with an accomplishment of the chief and greatest Promises God had made by the Prophets These words Comforted him but the Prayers that Jesus made for him in his last Agony comforted him far more and so he past from this Life to the next â—n the Armes of his Son and Saâ—lour and in the Presence of the most Sacred Virgin his Spouse The consideration of these particular Priâ—iedges with reason renderd the Holy â—â—â—gin Agatha more Devoted than â—â—â—r to Saint Joseph The Devout Yolant de Silva deserves with reason to have the eighth place or rank amongst the Devotes of Saint Joseph Her chief Devotion was to consider the Infancy of our Blessed Saviour who was drest in swadling Bands for the Love of Men and often Meditating upon this Point inkindled her Devotion towards Saint Joseph she imagining his Ears Blessed with the Cries of this Blessed Babe his Eyes with beholding him in all Conditions his Armes by being as a Cradle to Rock Carry and Embrace him his Mouth by declaring the faith and Affection of his Heart both by his Words and those Amorous Impressions of his Lips upon the Infants Sacred Feet This Mistery occasion'd her Devotion also to the Holy Innocents who as the Church says †Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt Orat. Innocent Not by Speaking but by Dying Profest their Faith In Memory anâ— Honour of them she Yearly sayâ— a hundred and forty thousand times our Lords Prayer they being sâ—â— many in number as some reasonablâ— suppose grounding their Opinion upon what Saint John relates in his Apoâ—â—lyps * Cum co centum quadraginta quaâ— tor millia habentes Nomen ejâ—â— scriptum in Frontibus Apoc. c. 14.1 They having his Name Writter in their For-Heads for whom they Sacrifis'd their Lives These Devotions prov'd very advantagious to her for Saint Joseph and the Holy Innocents in requital visited her at the hour of her Death never quitting her till they accompany'd and conducted her Devout Soul unto Heaven The Ninth Client of Saint Joseph was the Devout John Gerson Chancelour of the University of Paris No passionate lover ever having the like affection for his belov'd object as he had for Saint Joseph He having compos'd a Book he in titles it his Josephin in honour of Saint Joseph In each one of his Sermons he never omitted to say something in his Praise And in having as I may say amass'd and gather'd together all that can be sayd to encrease Saint Joseph's praise and esteem in this his work it may very well be call'd a Magazin of Saint Joseph's Praises But the better to judge of his Love to Saint Joseph 't is necessary to Read what he says of him and what praises he gives him As that he was Sanctifi'd in his Mother's Womb as Saint John Baptist was That he had obtain'd a perfect Victory â—â—er Sensuality which was always â—â—bject to his Reason that he was confirm'd in Grace that he â—ose â—ith our Saviour from the Dead That he then Appear'd to his belov'd Spouse the Blessed Virgin That no Saint in Heaven is greater than he except the Blessed Virgin So that to hear what he says you wou'd beleive God had chosen him for Saint Joseph's chief Panegyrist to write and set forth his Praises and that all others who have writ of this Subject are but his Schollars 'T was he that found out the true elevation of this Star and that it's ascendent was next to the Virgin Mother All which proves him a true Lover and Client of Saint Joseph The Devout Henry Chycot Canon of Chartres deserves the tenth place amongst the Clients of Saint Joseph all his thoughts being taken up how to augment his honour either by himself or others He undertook to write a Book upon his Marriage with the Mother of God in which he endeavour'd to set forth his Praises but not being able to finish it that Saint Joseph might loose nothing by his Death he address'd himself by Letter to his Friend John Gerson obligeing him by all the tyes of Friendship between them either to perfect this
next and who most easily and favorably grants what ever is ask'd and procures us a free access to Jesus and Mary Wherefore it was a profitable and imitable invention of the Devourâ— Henry Canon of Charters to have Recourse to Saint Joseph since as thâ—â— Learn'd Gerson remarks having him on his side he was sure also of his Son and Spouses Protection Saint Joseph having their Power at his Disposal and 't is sufficient to take him for our Protector to have his and their help in all our Necessities at the very first Petition or ever without asking it as appears by the following Examples Saint Teresa making a Voyage with some of her Religious to Found Vies was gon out of the right way and so engag'd with her Company among the Rocks which hung over a Brow of a Precipice so that the Wagoner cou'd not go either forwards or backwards Presently she go's to her wonted Refuge Saint Joseph ordering her Companions to joyn with her in begging the Protection of her Dear Father they had no sooner â—one so but they saw an Old Man who crv'd to them with a lowd Voice Stand for you will be lost if you go on Wherefore they ask'd him what way shall we go then That way reply'd he which seem'd impossible for a Wagon to go to but on a suddain they found themselves Miraculously put into it at which time they endeavour'd to find out the the Old Man to thank him but in vain as S. Teresa foretold who assur'd them 't was her good Father Saint Joseph who had freed them from the great langer they were in 'T was for this Reason that the Exorcist of Sister Jean of the Angels Prioress of the Vrsulins at Loudun who knew his goodness and power those him for his Protectour in this work For the Devils complain'd of Saint Joseph by whose means they cou'd not molest the Religious at her Devotions And to prove that Saint Joseph even helps without being ask'd or expecting our Prayers the following passage that hapen'd at Lyons in the Month of September last past 1638. do's evidently prove which I had from the Persons own Mouth and is as follow 's Mr. Peter Evialvin a Rich Marchant coming upon the eighth of September our Blessed Ladies Nativity with a Friend of his to the Church of Saint Joseph after some Discourse with his Friend who was a Client of Saint Joseph's about several Graces and Favours that Saint Joseph bestow'd upon his Clients and of the Merits of this great Saint conceiv'd a great desire to take him for his Advocate and resolv'd to frequent his Church and to heat Mass in it the Thursday and Friday following The next Sunday within the Octave upon which he put himself under Saint Joseph's Protection as he walk'd in the Fields for his divertisment he met two Men unknown to him one of which shot at him with a Blunderbuss charg'd with thirty hail-shot all enteâ—'d his Body without giving him any Mortal Wound two or three stayd in his Belly and one of them was beat flat upon his fore-head His Wife and some Passengers coming to his Assistance found him upon the Ground and thought him Dead but being taken up the Wounded Man seeing himself all Bloody recommends himself to Saint Joseph to whom his Wife also makes a Vow which succeeded so well that her Husband recover'd his Hurts within five Days and came to give thanks at Saint Joseph's Church for this Preservation being perfectly well and there Offer'd a Picture of this Miraculous escape as a memory of his Gratitude Give me leave therefore to end this Treatise by joyning my Petition with Saint Teresa's and beseeching you if you 'll not Beleive me yet for the Love of God that you wou'd make tryal how advantagious the Devotion to this great Saint is and how prosperous you 'll find it by Expetience For I have not sayd all I might have sayd there being greater Advantages in Loving and being Devout to Saint Joseph than the most perswasive Panagerist is able to Express But beleive me who will and let them that will Imitate me also I for my Part am resolv'd to Love Saint Joseph for Time and Eternity not with a languishing but flaming Love thereby to redeem time lost nor will I prefer any object under God before him for next after Jesus and Mary Joseph shall have place in my Affections in which I will persever to my last Breath which shall be imploy'd in pronouncing these Sacred Names Jesus Maria Joseph Live Jesus Mary and Joseph Amen FINIS DEVOTIONS TO S. JOSEPH SPOVSE to the B. V. Mary Mother of Iesus Printed by T. F. in the Year 1700. THE OFFICE OF S. Joseph At Mattins Jesus Mary Joseph vers O Lord open my Lips resp And my Mouth shall declare thy Praise vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost resp As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Alleluia The Hymn JOSEPH the Son of David was esteem'd Father of Jesus who the World Redeem'd The Virgin he espous'd In Heart conjoyn'd And Guardian was of both By Heaven assign'd Antiphon All Hail honour of the Patriarchs Steward of the holy Church of God who did'st conserve the Bread of Life and the Wheat of the Elect. vers O holy Joseph Pray for us resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the Merits of the Spouse of thy most holy Mother that what our possibility can not obtain may be giv'n us by his Intercession Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost World without end Amen At Prime Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn WHen thou the Virgin didâ—st with Child perceive Perplext in thought thou her design'dst to leave But in thy Sleep an Angel with his Voice Advis'd thee not to fear but to Rejoyce Antiphon All Hail honour of c. as before Pag. 4. The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee c. as before Pag. 5. At the Third Hour Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn TO Bethlem with the pregnant Virgin he Travel'd to pay th'imposed Subsidie Where Christ was to be born and in which place He shortly shouâ—d his Infant Lord embrace Antiphon All Hail honour of c. as before Pag. 4. vers O holy Joseph Pray for us resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee c. as before Pag. 5. At the Sixth Hour Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid
Contaning the seventh Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Merciful Joseph who is able to conceive the sensible Sorrow and extream grief you felt when you had lost the Child Jesus Methinks I hear you say O unfortunate Man that I am what is become of my Beloved Where is the Soul of my Heart And where shall I seek him I will never Sleep or give my self any Repose till I find him but presently without any loss of time run over all parts of the Earth to find him whom Heaven has pleas'd to commit to my Charge and Custody and without whom I cannot live but in extream Grief and Affliction And on the other fide who is able to express the Joy and extream Satisfaction wherewith your Heart was replenish'd when you found him in the midst of Doctours We humbly beseech you by this unconceivable Sadness and Joy that we may never loose our most amiable Jesus or if ever we be so unhappy as to loose him make us feel such a true and lively sorrow as you did that we may so carefully seek him as that we may soon find him with so great and sensible a Comfort that our sole care afterwards may be always to conserve him without ever loosing him any more Amen Our Father Hail Mary EIGHT MEDITATIONS FOR The Octave of Saint JOSEPH I. Meditation Of the Sanctification Birth and Name of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg Light of God to understand his particular Providence towards Saint Joseph and those special Prerogatives he bestow'd upon him before and at his Birth as also at his Circumcision I. Prelude Imagin your self at Nazareth where Saint Joseph was born and there behold the difference wherewith Men and Angels regarded this Royal Infant Harken to the sweet Name of Joseph given him at his Circumcision consider the esteem the Angels had both of this Holy Infant and of the sweet Name of Joseph that was given him at his Circumcision II. Prelude BEG Grace to be Inflam'd with Love and Devotion to this sweet Infant and the Holy Name of Joseph I. Point Consider that Saint Joseph as Gerson solidly proves was Sanctifi'd before his Birth for if the Prophet Jeremy Saint John Baptist and other Saints receiv'd this favour upon account of those Functions they were afterwards to Exercise The Office design'd for Saint Joseph of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father and Governour to the Son of God far exceeded theirs and therefore no less requir'd the same priviledges they had Admire the Purity of this holy Infant give thanks to God for this favour of his early Sanctification congratulate with him for it and for those high Dignities for which God design'd him that mov'd him to give it And beg by the Intercession of Saint Joseph such a true Sanctification as may render you pleasing to his Divine Majesty and his Celestial Court whose love is as much to be valued as the esteem of the World is to be contemn'd II. Point Consider this holy Infant thus dear to God linally Descended from David heir to so many Kings and Royal Prophets is Born in a Poor house of Poor but Noble Parents without any of those marks of honor and greaâ—ness which are common to the Birth of Princes See the difference between God's and the World's esteem of Riches and Honor consider how be treats his true Favorits behold how the Angels admire what the World takes no notice of Praise their Wisdom and conâ—emn it's Folly The Glory of this Royal Infant is from within hid from the Eyes of the World but seen by God and his Angels O the Beauty and Riches of Poverty Which Worldlings perceive not O Royal and Holy Infant obtain for me such an inflam'd Love of Poverty such a generous Humility as you had that I may esteem no honour greater than to be contemn'd by the World for God's Sake or than the being lov'd and esteem'd by him and his Celestial Court III. Point Consider the signification of the Name that was given him at his Circumcision either by Divine Inspiration or which is more probable by the Revelation of aâ— Angel as Saint John Baptist's was Joseph signifies Encrease anâ— what an Encrease in all kinds did he receive with it All sonâ— of such Heavenly Graces aâ—sorts of Priviledges and Prerogatives as the Dignity of hiâ— Person and Employments justly requir'd The Name of the great Patriarch Joseph who was a Figure of this was given him upon account of his Angelical Chastity and the care he was to take in Feeding Protecting and Preserving the Elect Children of God in Aegypt But our Joseph of whom the other was a Type was to be the Virgin-Spouse of the Virgin-Mother of God Protectour and Preserver both of her and her Son nay even of the Son of God himself in Aegypt O Name above all Names â—ext to JESUS and MARY â—â—t it be a constant Comfort to â—ny Heart and from the abundance of Heart let my Mouth frequently repeat the sweet â—ame of Joseph joyning it to â—â—ose Delicious Names of JESUS â—nd MARY The Colloquie O most Holy and Royal Infant O most Blessed Joseph be to me a Joseph that is â—otain for me such Encrease of sanctity such a Love of Poverty â—nd Angelical Purity with such 〈◊〉 true Humility as rendred you â—â—uly great and such a Devotion to your dear self that the â—ery pronouncing your Blessed Name may creat such a Joy and Comfort in my Heart as may move you to interceed for and consequently to obtain anâ— Increase of all Vertues in it II. MEDITATION Of the humble Vocation and Sanctity of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg of God to let us set why Saint Joseph follow'd so humble a Profession as that of a Carpenter and after what manner he practic'd it Increasing at the same time in all sorts of Perfection I. Prelude IMagin your self at Nazareth beholding Saint Joseph a most comely Youth of eighteen Years of age learning and exercising the laborious and humble trade of a Carpenter II. Prelude BEG of God to teach you by S. Joseph's Example how Profitably to joyn an Humble Active aÌ„d Passive Life that thereby the less you are esteem'd upon Earth by Creatures the more you may be Esteem'd and Lov'd by your Creator in Heaven I. Point Consider first that Providence ordain'd that Saint Joseph tho' of a Royal extract shou'd learn and exercise so mean a Trade as that of a Carpenter first to avoid Idleness so vety dangerous to the Virginal Purity he had Vow'd to him Secondly that the Humble exercises of this Trade might ballance the Dignities he design'd to bestow upon him of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster Father to the Son of God That no Ostentation or Vanity might take any place in his Humble Heart Thirdly that by the Labour of his Hands and Sweat of his Brows he might gain wherewithall to Exercise the greatest of Charities by nourishing and maintaining the Mother and Son of God
O wonderful Providence O mark of an extraordinary Love I bless and return a Million of thanks to thy Divine Majesty for this thy Love to Saint Joseph And I Congratulate with thee my belov'd Saint Joseph for being so great a Favorit of Heaven Vouchsafe to obtain for me by thy Intercession such a Detestation of Idleness such a Love of Labour and Chastity it's Companion such a Love of JESUS and MARY as may move me to shew it to every one even the least that wants my assistance as you did and I wou'd wish to have done to theÌ„selves since they take the same as kindly as if done to them He having assur'd us †Quiquid uni ex minimis meis fesistis mihi feustis What we do to the least of his he takes it as done to himself O admirable Exercise of Charity O wonderful occasion of expressing such a Love to JESUS and MARY as Saint Joseph practis'd II. Point Consider what mov'd Saint Joseph to Exercise this calling nothing else but his Humility and desire of expressing his Love by these Occasions of labours and Sufferings that accompany so painful a Trade O most Humble and Mortifi'd Joseph obtain for me such a Love of Humility and Mortification as may procure that Vertue of Chastity you so excell'd in that I may truly Love and faithfully practice this Vertue of Chastity as you did III. Point Consider his laborious and painful Life was accompany'd with so great Piety and Purity of Intention doing all purely to please God as render'd him so great a Saint that he deserv'd to be Canoniz'd by the Holy Ghost himself who stiles him Just that is Replenish'd with all Vertues and free from all Imperfections verifiing hereby his Name of Joseph or Increase by such a daily Increase in all kind of Perfection as mov'd God to bestow upon him even the highest of Dignities of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father to the Son of God O wonderful intention that raises such ordinary Actions to so high a Perfection O admirable Perfection that render'd Saint Joseph worthy in God's opinion of such great Imploments Blessed be thy Divine Majesty for bestowing 'em and thus Rewarding so great a Sanctity whereby thou did'st render hiâ— in Dignity next to JESUS and MARY I Congratulate with you O great Saint Joseph for youâ— faithful compliance with the Divine assistance obtain for mâ— a Love of all Humble Actions and teach me your Art of Joyning their exteriour practice with such an interiour and purt Intention as may render me pleasing to God and a worthy Client of your dear self The Colloquie O Infinite goodness always preventing us with your special Graces and Favours grant me such a perfect Conformity to whatsoever your Providence shall ordain and such a constant compliance with your Grace with such a Purity of Inâ—ention in all my Actions by the powerful Intercession of Saint Joseph as may obtain for me your Sanctifying Grace and Love in this Life and the Eternal Injoyment of your Divine self in the most Happy Company of JESUS MARY and JOSEPH in the next III. MEDITATION Of the Mariage of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg Grace of God to understand those many admirable Lessons of Perfection that are taught us in this Mistery I. Prelude IMagin a great assembly of the chief Batchelours of the Tribe of Juda whom the High-Priest had summon'd together to choose out of 'em a Husband for the Blessed Virgin Mary and behold amongst 'em Saint Joseph a most Beautiful and Comely Man of forty years of Age with a Wan in his Hand from which green Bud's sprouted forth and a Dove over his Head which were the marks that God had given the High-Priest when he Consulted the Propitiatory to know which of 'em was to be the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Behold the Ptiest also giving this most Beautiful and Modest Virgin to Saint Joseph and he Espousing her by putting a Ring on her Finger and Veiling her Head with his Cloak in token of making her pertaker of all his Goods and of his taking her into his Care and Protection II. Prelude BEG Grace to understand anâ— draw Fruit from those extraordinary Misteries that appear in this wonderful Marriage I. Point Consider the Budding of the Wan in his Hand and the Dove over his Head iâ— a token of Fruitful Purity and a mark of that Love oâ— Chastity that they both haâ— Vow'd to God Consider also how wonderfully God rewatded this Vow by choosing the one to be Mother the other to be her Spouse and Foster-Father of his only Begotten Son See the difference between God's and the World's choice he chooses a Poor Humble Trades-Man to be Husband to his Mother and for his Foster-Father â—nd Governour not any Rich or Great Person as Worldlings â—on'd have done Oh how different are God's and the Worlds â—entiments as God himself deâ—ares * Non enim cogitationes meae coâ—itationes Vestrae Nec Viae Vesâ—rae viae meae dicit Dominus Quia â—cut exaltantur Caeli a Terra sic exaltatae sunt viae meae a vijs vesâ—ris cogitationes meae a cogitationibus vestris Isaiae 55.8.9 My Thoughts are not â—ke yours nor my Ways the same â—ith your Ways For as far as â—e Heavens are exalted above â—e Earth so far are my Thoughts â—nd Ways Exalted above yours The World beheld Saint Joseph as a poor Contemptible Tradesman Heaven besides his Royal Extraction beheld him Rich in Vertue saw his admirable Chastity and Humility which render'd him worthy to be choosen a happy and fit Consort for the Queen of Angels and Mother of God O Thrice happy Marriage O Chast Espousals O most Happy pair I Congratulate with you both and Bless the Divine Goodness for this Angelical Union and that joent happiness you both obtain'd thereby Obtain for me such a Love and Practice of Purity with such an Humility as may win God's Heart and move him as your Purity and Humility did to a Love and Tenderness for me II. Point Consider what mov'd the Divine Providence to effect this extraordimary Marriage First he ordain'd it for the Comfort and Assistance of the Blessed Virgin that Saint Joseph might take care of her and protect both her and her Son Secondly for the defence of both hers and her Sons Honour that she might not be accus'd for an Adultress nor he for being Illegittimate or Unlawfully Born Thirdly that he might be a Faithful and Credible Witness of the Divine Incarnatton of the Son of God which none cou'd Testify like himself Fourthly that this Marriage might augment the esteem of Chastity which before was Contemn'd by the World and that their Example might make others Vow it as a thing more perfect than Marriage and give Example to Married Persons to Practice it and hereby produce as many Children as there shou'd be Lovers and Professours of Chastity in Marriage Wherefore Alexins Eleazar Julian Henry the Emperour and Edward
King of England with their Spouses may be stil'd Children of Joseph and Mary O Divine Motives Oh what care has God of his Servants Oh Angelical Chastity How little art thou esteem'd by Men and how art thou lov'd and admir'd by God and Angels Oh Chast and Fruitful Marriage that has brought forth so many Virgins O Virgin Mother of JESUS O Virginal Spouse of the Virgin Mary inspire us with these Chast desires inable us to make and practice such Nuptial and Virginal Contracts as these that may render us capable of accompanying and following the Chast lamb your Son JESUS for all Eternity III. Point Consider also God's infinite Wisdom by uniting in Marriage two Persons so alike in all things excepting their Age he being forty she only fourteen Years old which disparity was very fit upon account of those Reasons mention'd in the foregoing Point For first they were both of the Royal Line of David Secondly they were both Sanctified before their Birth Thirdly they were both signal Lovers of Chastity they being the first that knew it's Merit and Vow'd it Fourthly they both so excell'd in Sanctity and Humility that she who stil'd her self a humble Handmaid or Slave was declar'd by an Angel full of Grace and he who endeavour'd to cover his Sanctity by his humble Trade and Profession is Canoniz'd by the Holy Ghost who pronounc'd him Just The Colloquie O Matchless and most happy pair to whose Care and Protection can I better commit my self than to yours to whom God committed the Care and Protection of his only Son and of his Virgin Mother O Virgin Mother of God accept me therefore for your Child since your Son has recommended me to you as such O Virgin Father to whom God committed the Care of his only Son and of his Virgin Mother accept own and protect me as your and her Child and teach me to shew my Love to you both by a Love of Chastity of which you have given me so admirable an Example in these your Angelical Espousals and a Love of Humility and all other Vertues by your Constant Practice of 'em upon all occasions IV. MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's Journey with the Blessed Virgin to Visit St. Elisabeth Prepratory Prayer TO beg Grace to understand the Vertues Exercis'd by the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph in this Journey and to profit by their admirable Examples I. Prelude IMagin your self bearing our Blessed Lady and Saint Joseph company in their troublesome Winter Journey of forty miles over steep Mountains to Visit Saint Elizabeth Hearken to their Pious Discourses in their Journey and behold also what past at their meeting Saint Elizabeth and in their three Months abode in her House Behold also Saint Joseph's perplexity when he perceiv'd our Blessed Lady with Child II. Prelude BEG Grace to understand their Charity their Patient Sufferings their Humility And Saint Joseph's Resignation together with his most Prudent and Meek Carriage in the greatest of Tryals I. Point Consider that about four Months after Saint Joseph's Espousal with the Blessed Virgin and a few Days after the Angel Gabriel had declar'd to her unknown to Saint Joseph the Mistery of the Incarnation and that her Cosen Elizabeth was six Months gon with Child The Blessed Virgin desir'd leave of Saint Joseph that she might visit her but he out of the tender affection he had for his Spouse wou'd not permit her to go alone but wou'd accompany her himself O Charitable Visit O Tender Affection that renders the hardest things Delightful O Amiable Virgin thus dear to your Spouse what a Journey did your Charity to your Cosen move you to undertake O great Saint Joseph what pains did the care and tenderness you had for your Spouse move you Joyfully to suffer O Holy Joseph obtain for me by your powerful Intercession this ardent Charity that even renders the hardest and most troublesom things easie and even delightful II Point Consider what Joy and what Congratulations past at the meeting of these Relations what sincere expressions of Kindness past between Saint Joseph and Saint Zachary And what extraordinary expressions thereof past also between our Blessed Lady and Saint Elizabeth Who Prophetically confirm'd to her what the Angel had reveal'd by calling her * Mater Domini Mother of our Lord. Consider also with what Affection and Humility our Blessed Lady and Saint Joseph assisted Saint Elizabeth and Saint Zachary in all kinds of services both before and at the Birth of Saint John Baptist consider also what Pious conversations past between these Pious Persons during the three Months they staid there O Angelical and Heavenly conversation O Wonderful practicers of Charity and Humility obtain for me by your Intercession those two Vertues you so excell'd in III. Point Consider the great tryal Almighty God gave Saint Joseph when in his return home he found our Blessed Lady with Child O what a Combat of different Passions did this knowledge endeavour to raise in his Peaceful Heart The experience he had of her Vertue wou'd not permit him to Judge hardly of her nor the tender Affection he had for her suffer him to act with Severity against her but â—n the other side the Zeal he had â—or God's Law the chief object â—f his Love requir'd he shou'd â—â—ut her away as an Adultress â—et on the other side her conâ—ant Obedience to the Law and â—ractice thereof wou'd not perâ—it him rashly to accuse her â—ereof and to quit the greatest Comfort of his Life by forsakâ—ng her yet to satisfie God's Command without divulging â—er crime in appearance at his return home he purpos'd a priâ—ate Divorse being unwilling to â—ublish what perhaps was no â—rime in her for as Saint Jerom â—ously surmizes the thought â—f the Promis'd Messias who was to be Born of a Virgin occur'd to him and her Vertue made him think she might 〈◊〉 design'd for his Mother 〈◊〉 this thought made him also thâ—â— himself unworthy of her Conversation and therefore to thiâ—â— of retiring himself from 〈◊〉 Sanctuary judging himself 〈◊〉 deserving of that Relation he 〈◊〉 contracted with her O raâ—ing Perplexity O interiour Maâ—tyrdom O cruel Combat between the Love of God and 〈◊〉 of his Spouse O how do's Goâ— try his best Servants And wiâ—â— what Silence and Humility do the Blessed Virgin as well as 〈◊〉 bear this Cross But how Mâ—raculously do's God Comfort those that thus bear Afflictions He sends Divine when Humaâ— helps cannot afford any Foâ— behold God sends the Angel Gâ—â—briel to bid him take his Wiâ—â— who had Conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost and shou'd bring forth a Son to whom he shou'd give the Name of JESUS who shou'd save his People O Joyful tyding Whereby Joseph is not only freed from all Perplexity and Discomfort but a new dignity is given him by being Declar'd God-Father to the Son of God O stupendious Dignity O just Reward of such Pious Sufferings Consider also what mutual Joy did the reciting their past
inspire me with those Thoughts of these Mysteries wherewith thou didst Inspire the tender and Loving Heart of Saint Joseph O most Holy Joseph obtain by your Spouses and your own Intercession such a true Disposition of Heart to Receive and lay them up in my Heart that I may profit by them that hereby my Heart may become a grateful Present to you to Offer to JESUS Behold such as it is I here Offer with all the Affection I am able O Increase this Affection that the present may be more acceptable and than Offer it to the Divine JESUS the God of my Heart VI. MEDITATION Of the Virtues Saint Joseph Exercis'd in the Flight of JESUS into Aegypt in his Return from thence and at his loss of him in Jerusalem Preparatory Prayer BEG Grace to see and Imitate those Virtues Saint Joseph practis'd in these Mysteries I. Prelude BEHOLD Saint Joseph as soon as he heard the Angel Pronounce those Words Take the Child and his Mother and fly into Aegypt getting up at Midnight and without any delay beginning a long Winter Journy of above a hundred and sixty Miles with his Spouse the Blessed Virgin and her tender Infant JESUS not yet a Year old Behold him also exercising his Trade for seven Years together at Mattutes six miles from Babylon amidst a company of Idolaters who were incited by the Devil to treat these Holy Persons after a most rude and inhuman manner All which Saint Joseph patiently suffer'd till he was warn'd by an Angel to return home Then imagine them returning back the same tedious Winter Journy to Nazareth were remaining four Years they ascended with JESUS now twelve Years of of Age to Jerusalem where they lost him and returning back to seek him found him in the Temple II. Prelude BEG Grace rightly to Consider the profit Saint Joseph made by all these Mysteries and beg his Intercession to do the like I. Point Consider Saint Joseph's Blind and Prompt Obedience by intirely adandoning himself to God's Provindence Quitting at mid-night his Country his House Friends and all other Conveniencies to begin a long Winter Journey to go to live amongst Idolaters The Love of JESUS and his Precious Life made him set at naught all other things to save this God's Will was his Guide and Law which he Blindly Obey'd without consulting his Reason which might have suggested difficulties and objected for Example why at this time of Night Why in this hard season of Winter Why must we go amongst Idolaters and not rather to the three Kings What must he Fly He who is to Save others Cannot he Save himself How long must we remain in this Banishment But nothing pass'd of all this he knew Reason was not to be Consulted but Contradicted when God Commands He knew God never adandon's those that abandon themselves to his Providence O sublime Obedience O perfect Resignation O admirable Confidence O Holy Joseph obtain for me these Vertues Practis'd by thee after so sublime a manner as rais'd thee to this Dignity of becoming Saviour to him who was to Save the whole World II. Point Consider what a Mortified Life Saint Joseph must needs lead amongst such Barbarous Idolaters Consider what he must Interiourly suffer for seven Years together by seeing God continually Offended And what Exteriour Sufferings he underwent by a want of all things Living only upon the poor Earnings of his Trade and the effects of Poverty he saw JESUS and his Spouse suffer were more sensible than his own and then behold and admire his Patience Resignation and Joy in Suffering with and for JESUS Consider how by his continual Adorations and Honours done to God he endeavour'd to satisfie for those Idolatries which he with a sad Heart continually beheld O Pious O Patient and Resign'd Joseph teach me how to Love and to Express my Love by Labours and Sufferings as you did and that Love may make Labours and Sufferings both Easie and Delightful assist me to undergo them as in the Presence and purely for the sake of JESUS Then Consider what Joy the Angels tidings of Herod's Death occasion'd in his Heart not for his own sake but for the sake of JESUS whose Life Herod sought and which was dearer to him than his own O teach me this generous and disinteress'd Love that may make me have no regaurd at all to my own Interest but that my chief delight may be only in what relates to God's Honour and Happiness III. Point Consider at Saint Joseph's return from Jerusalem how sensible he was when he miss'd JESUS finding he had lost the only object of his Love and fearing this loss might proceed from his own Fault and Negligence Consider his Resignation to this so sensible Affliction and with what Peace and equality of Mind he bore it and with what Diligence he sought him and then consider what Joy his Heart felt when he found him and heard his Divine Disputations with the Doctours in the Temple Consider also what Joy the Words of our Blessed Lady caus'd in his Soul when she gave him the Title of Father which Joy was accompanied with no less Humility and Confusion reflecting upon his own unworthiness thereof O great Saint Joseph Interceed that I may never loose JESUS through my own Fault and when he withdraws himself that I may suffer it with resignation and so efficaciously seek him that I may find him as soon as you did The Colloquie O Infinite Goodness grant me by the Intercession of Saint Joseph that I may in all things intirely abandon my self to your Divine Will Patiently suffer what you think best where when and as long as you please grant that I may never Wilfully loose you but when you please to withdraw your self may suffer it with that Patience and Resignation and seek you with such Fervour and Constancy as that I may find you VII MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's eighteen Years Conversation with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth Preparatory Prayer TO beg of God to understand the great profit Saint Joseph made by the advantage of two such admirable Examples encreasing in all sorts of Vertue I. Prelude IMAGINE your self to hear his Royal Progenitor David under a Similitude Prophetically declare in the following words the profit he made by his abode at Nazareth †Justus ut Palina florebit sicut Cedrus Libani multiplicabitur plantati in Domo Domini in atrijs Domus Dei nostri florebunt Psal 91.13 The Just says he planted in the House or Court of God shall florish like a Palm Tree and Increase or be Exalted in Perfection like a Cedar of Libanus See how Saint Joseph verifies this Prediction both by his Title of Just and Name of Joseph which signifies An Increase and reflect how like a Cedar he grew and increas'd even to the highest pitch of Perfection in Nazareth which may truly be call'd the House and Court of God since 't was the Habitation of the Son of God his Virgin Mother and his
Foster Father Saint Joseph for no less than eighteen Years Imagine your self there to hear and see Saint Joseph's Pious Conversation and manner of Living II. Prelude BEG Grace to Conceive those admirable Virtues practis'd by Saint Joseph in his Conversation with JESUS and MARY and beg also his Powerful Intercession that you may seriously endeavour to Imitate his excellent Example I. Point Consider with how great an Affection Patience Constancy and Humility Saint Joseph Exercis'd all those Humble and Laborious Actions that belong'd to so painful a Trade and to his Domestick Affairs Consider with what Concern Tenderness and Compassion he beheld our Saviour Labouring with him consider what courage his Presence and Assistance gave him in all his Labours and with what Content he perform'd 'em for the Maintenance of JESUS and his Blessed Mother how joyfully also he Assisted 'em both on all occasions and with how pure an Intention he perform'd each Action both to please and to express his Love towards God Who do's not envy Saint Joseph's Happiness in this particular And who wou'd not wish himself in Saint Joseph's place to do the same Do but help those for God's sake you live withall or that want your Assistance and you will have the same Merit and Reward Consider also what Joy you shou'd have had to serve JESUS and MARY as Saint Joseph did Exercise the same Acts of Charity to God's Image your Neighbour as he did to JESUS and he his promis'd the same reward as if you did it to himself * Quamdiu fecistis uni ex his fratribus meis minimis mihi fecistis Matth. 25. v. 40. What you have done to the least of these my Brethren you have done it to me Reflect also upon God's Presence who beholds helps and encourages you whilst you Labour and you 'll have the same Comfort in your Labours which he had Labour purely to please God for the Love of God and to do the Will of God and you will have the same Reward as if you had Wrought and Labour'd as Saint Joseph did to maintain JESUS Who says his †Cibus meus est facere Voluntatem ejus qui misit me Joan. 14. v. 34. Meat is the fulfilling the Will of his Father O how did Saint Joseph do all this And how pleasing did this make him in God's Sight His chief delight being to do God's Will II. Point Consider that his Conversation with JESUS and MARY was so pleasing to him that he avoided all other Conversations to which the Will of God did not particularly lead him consider whither the Conversation you have with these in Prayer be as pleasing to youâ— as to make you quit all other unnecessary Conversations see whither you prefer Retirement Silence and Conversing with JESUS and MARY before all other Conversations in this world Consider also Saint Joseph's Modest behaviour his Silence Recollection Temperance and Mortification both in Eating and Drinking and Imitate him in these Reflect upon his Pious Discourses with JESUS and his Spouse and frequently Practise the same by such like Pious Aspirations and Colloquies as he made to them Consider how he ponder'd and laid up in his Heart after his Spouses Example all the Divine sayings of JESUS and do you also hearken unto keep-in memory and reflect upon those Divine Inspirations whereby JESUS also speaks to you in Prayer or at other times Consider how his Heart was Inflam'd by the words of JESUS and how without doubt he often express'd it to his Spouse as the Disciples did by this their Interrogation * Nonne Cor nostrum ardens erat in nobis dum loqueretur Luke 24.32 Was not our Heart Inflam'd whilst he spoke within us And reflect how those Flames also broke forth in his pious Discourses and set others on fire Who wou'd not have wish'd to have his Heart thus Inflam'd by enjoying this delightful Conversation Endeavour only in your Conversation to bring in Pious Discourse and you will invite him to come and Converse with you †Ubi sunt duo vel tres Congregati in Nomine meo ibi sum in medio eorum Matth. 18. v. 20. Meet but those you Converse withall in his Name and you will meet him you will always find him in the midst of 'em darting Flames into your Heart Lastly in your Conversation follow Saint Joseph's Example in taking the part and excusing the absent when you hear 'em Blam'd and you will be secure from faling into that ordinary Defect which renders most Conversations Dangerous and Displeasing to God the Censuring or Backbiting your Neighbour III. Point Consider Saint Joseph's Silence Recollection and Interiour Peace of Mind wherewith he perform'd all his Exteriour Actions whilst his Hands Labour'd upon Earth his Thoughts and Affections were imploy'd in Heaven Consider with what Humility of Spirit with what Perfect Obedience and with what Joy of Heart he perform'd all his Actions haveing always before his Eyes the wonderful Obedience of JESUS both to himself and his Spouse beholding him verifie what the Royal Prophet foretold that he shou'd be * In Laboribus a Juventute Psal 87. v. 16. In Labours from his Youth and what the Holy Ghost also declar's †Et erat Subditus illis Luc. 2. v. 82. That he was Subject to them Who therefore can think even the hardest Labour too much to do for JESUS who thus Labour'd for us Who can think even the Humblest and Meanest Employment below him when with Saint Joseph he beholds the Son of God stooping to the like and Obeying Saint Joseph in the Meanest and Vilest Offices Beg of Saint Joseph to Inspire and put you in mind of these or such like Thoughts in all your Actions Labours and Mortifications which he had in his that they may become pleasing to God and both easie and profitable to your self whereby you shall not only Labour but Pray continually Imitate him therefore in all you do and beg of him to teach you this most profitable Art so pleasing to God of joyning Prayer and Action together The Colloquie BEG of God by Saint Joseph's Intercession that Spirit wherewith he Convers'd with JESUS and MARY and perform'd all his Actions during those eighteen Years he liv'd at Nazareth whereby you shall not only make your self pleasing to God in this World but bâ— acting after this manner shaâ—â— obtain such a foretast of thâ—â— next as will make you thinâ— nothing too hard or too mucâ— for the purchase of so great anâ— everlasting a Happiness VIII MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's last Sickness Death and Glory in Heaven Preparatory Prayer BEG of God to understand the Sentiments Saint Joseph had in his Sickness and Death and the Reward he now Possesses of all his Virtues I. Prelude IMAGINE Saint Joseph lying Sick upon his Death-bed with our Blessed Saviour and our Lady on each side of him imagine him sweetly giving up the Ghost His Soul carried by Angels to Limbo and his